Hari virtually walks out; NTR junior stays away

HYDERABAD:  On TDP founder NT Rama Rao’s 88th birth anniversary on Saturday the feud between the Nandamuri and Nara families came to the fore once again. This time the party’s Mahanadu became the arena for the open tussle. It is customary for the party to pay tributes to NTR at the Mahanadu marking the birth anniversary of its founder. But NTR’s son  Harikirshna, who used to speak in praise of NTR at every Mahanadu,  refused to speak on Saturday. He shared the dais with party chief and brother-in-law N Chandrababu Naidu, cut the cake and shared it among the party leaders but did not address the gathering.When Harikrsihna refused to address the Mahanadu, Politburo member Yanamala Ramakrishnudu requested him to speak a few words about NTR but the NTR’s son turned down the request. When Ramakrishnudu repeatedly requested Harikrishna to speak, an annoyed Harikrishna showed his finger in a warning gesture to Ramakrishnudu. He remained on the dais for a few minutes more and left the place without speaking to anyone.Ramakrishnudu tried to explain later: “I tried to pacify Harikrishna. I do not know the reasons for his silence today. Showing his finger is his habit and nothing should be read into it.” Harikrishna is learnt to be unhappy with the way the Mahanadu is being organised. The large number of flexies of Lokesh overshadowed the cutouts of Harikrishna and NTR Jr which were few in number. Realising the problem, Naidu told party workers in the evening that   display of Lokesh banners by one or two leaders would lead to indiscipline in the party. “When the Chandragiri Assembly segment unit of the party adopted a resolution seeking political entry of Lokesh, I advised them restraint,” Naidu said after Harikrishna virtually walked out of the meeting. “We have a specific agenda. One or two persons bringing forth agenda like demanding Lokesh’s entry into politics is not good,” Naidu said.Though, Harikrishna refused to speak, his younger brother and popular actor Balakrishna, who has always sided with Naidu, spoke.